Motion picture screen



June 16, 1931. y J, A,.GRAY

MOTION PICTURE SCREEN Filed Allg. `2. 1929 iNVENTOR Jzmes. Gray ATTORNEY Patented June 16, `1931 PATE JAMES A, GRAY, OF S'IL.V PAUL, MINNESOTA MOTION PICTURE SCREEN Applicationpled August 2, 1929. Serial No. 383,079.

My invention relates to motion picture screens, and has for its' objectto provide a screen with an exteriorlayer of glass objects, as solid cylinders placed upon the screen in varying positions, so that the varying positions and the varying angles of the cylinders will bring about the maximum ofrefleeted and refracted light, and thereby increase to the maximum extent the field of screen illumination.

l am aware that it is old to coat screens with a layer of minute glass beads to reflect a greater amount of light projected upon the same than in the ordinary screens, but, l have found, that in the use of glass beads, due to the regularity of reflective surfaces and the restricted condensation of light within the beads, there in such restriction in the angles of reflection as to cause in sufficient illumination when viewed from the sides of the screen.

By myfimproved invention, hereinafter particularly described, I greatly extend the range of illumination.

These and other features of the invention 'will be more particularly described inthe following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a plan View of a section of screen constructed according to my invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view, partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, l utilize for the background, a suitable character of fabric screen A, such as is ordinarily sold for screen purposes, forming, however, the screen fabric with perforations 2 to permit the sound being transmitted, -as in talking pictures.

ln carrying out my invention, the screen A is covered with a suitable adhering coatas lacquer, and, before this lacquer sets, it is, covered withoblong solid glass cylinders 3. These cylinders are very small and are preferably blown upon the face of the lacquered surface of the screen before the lacquer sets, so that, as the lacquer'hardens, thel will be held by said lacquer in all sorts o varying positions, as indicated in.

, light.

the drawing. After the cylinders are blown upon the screen fabric, and before the lacquer hardens,'l preferably run a roll over. the cylinders to place them in a flat-Wise position upon the screen fabric,

The preferred size of these solid glass cylinders is about one-sizrty-fourthA of an inch in diameter, and about one-sixteenth of an inch long.

In use, with these lass cylinders, constituting the facing of t e screen, lying in all sorts of varying dat-wise positions upon the fabric, the light thrown against the face of the screen is-condensed in the usual manner and reflected therefrom at the di'erent anffles of both the end walls and the circular walls of the cylinders. As will be apparent, with the end walls of the cylinders facing other adjacent cylinders at all sorts of varying angles, there will be the eXtreme of variation, both in the angles of the rays of reflection and in the angles of the rays of refraction in rays assin from one cylinder to another cylin er an being then reflected and refracted. By reason of the light, being reected and refracted from every conceivable angle, the 4field of illumination is materially spread beyond the sides of the screen. i

The fabric screen forming` the backing sheet for the glass cylinders b eing of very pliable material, and the cylinders themselves being of minute size, the screen .may be kept in a flexible and pliable condition throughout its life and readily rolled up and laced out of the way when not in use.

l have found that with the use ofmy form of coating for the face of ll not only greatly entend the field' of illumination, but bring about the illumination with the minimum amount of These two advantages are of partisular value in connection withpicture screens. My character of screen facing, formed of glass cylinders, materially longer than they are thick, lends itself also particularly to perforated screen backings, as will be apparent from the drawing, a most desirable advantage in vconnection with the present vogue of talking pictures.

particular the screen,

I claim: LA motion picture screen, comprising a fabric backing, an adhesive. dressin applied thereto, and a covering la er o solld l glass c linders imbedded in an a plied to said a esive coating and position thereon at varying angles." v

2. A motion picture screen, comprising a f fabric backin an adhesive dressing applied to the face t ereof, and a coating layerof Y -relatively long, solid lass cylinders apphed to said 'dresslng in atp-Wise position, and at valyingaligles.r

- he process of manufacturing ay motion picture screen consisting of coatingthe -face of the screen backing with an adhesive material, coverin said adhesive material with a vmass of mlnute, solid glass cylinders' before. the adhesive material is set and then applying pressure over said cylinders to 'place them in a fiat-Wise positlon andat varied angles in'adherence to said adhesive material. p

4. A motion picture screen, comprisinga backing member of giexible material, and a coating of trans arent, c .lindricah glass particles adlesive y secure to one face oi said bachng` member. f

5. A coatm for 'a projection screen, comprising a m tiplicityofsmall clear glass cylindrical particles. l y

6 The Vprocess ofmanufacturing a projection screen which comprises coating one V:face of a screen-backing with an adhesive material, and of covering the face so treated with a mass of minute cylindrical glass particles before the adhesive material has set, and of thereafter permitting. the adheslve'materialtoset to adhesively secure the y 40 particles in contact with said adhesive .ma-

.l terialto said adhesive material. Y.

In testimony whereof I ax myfsi ature ,om s A,v (3i` Y, 

